[Athena]

I recently received some e-mails from people asking me what parts of ROCH I had translated to help out Noodles and whether I could post them. All I can say is those parts are ridiculously small and after some careful consideration I will post them. These two excerpts were done by me many months ago.

That year when Xiao Longnu turned 18, a large group of heretic martial artists gathered at Mount Zhongnan. Da’erba and Huo Du easily entered the Chongyang Temple and Huo Du was able to wound Hao Datong in a few stances. If Guo Jing had not arrived on time, Quanzhen School would have suffered a heavy blow. Nonetheless, the main hall of the Chongyang shrine was burnt to a crisp by Huo Du and his men. Ever since master Chongyang’s grandeur awed the realm, Quanzhen was known as the orthodox martial arts school. The Seven Masters of Quanzhen had deep and profound martial arts cultivation and did not drag down Quanzhen’s reputation. However, the martial arts of the Mongolian Lamaist Sect proved to be powerful too and when Imperial Priest Jinlun first came to China he shocked the realm with his impressive skills. On return Hao Datong and Sun Bu’er expressed their worries and adding more frustration to Qiu Chuji and others. During the Heroes’ Assembly at Dasheng Guan, Xiao Longnu and Yang Guo were able to repel the Imperial Priest and his pupils, Hao Daotong, Sun Bu’er, Zhao Zhijing and Zhen Zhibing saw the martial arts that were displayed were excellent. Yang Guo was able to mock and overcome Zhao Zhijing without making actual movements in Guo Jing’s study, later on Xiao Longnu heavily injured Zhao Zhijing within one stance. Although Sun Bu’er was present, she could not clearly see the movements Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu made. It looked like that the martial arts of Quanzhen School was entirely useless when facing the Ancient Tomb school, this was another frightening thought. Afterwards they heard that Xiao Longnu and Yang Guo defeated Imperial Priest with their combined swordplay, the entire Quanzhen school was shocked.
Of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, Tan Chuduan died a long time ago. Ma Yu had also passed away, now there were only five masters left. Liu Chuxuan assumed leadership of Quanzhen for only six months before passing the leadership onto Qiu Chuji. The five masters are old and their vigour was declining. There are no exceptional talents amongst the third and fourth generation, seeing that the Mongolians are trying to invade the south, the country is in peril. The five masters of Quanzhen would be able to deal with the Imperial Priest if he would lead his disciples against Quanzhen or the Ancient Tomb school if they would try to extract vengeance upon Quanzhen. However, if they would wait another ten years or so at that time both internal and external calamity would hit the Quanzhen school, at that point the Quanzhen school would face definite defeat. That is why the five of them agreed to contemplate and create a new martial arts skill to protect the reputation of Quanzhen. This skill would not only protect the Quanzhen prestige but also protect the country and save the people. That is why they cannot be bothered by other duties. That is why they summoned Zhen Zhibing back to assume acting leader of the Quanzhen school.
(from chapter 25 edition 3)

Zhen Zhibing, Li Zhichang and others were very happy and called out:”Master!” and rushed forward. Da’erba and Huo Du were shocked and saw the explosive power that blew the doors of the cave open, like it was being blasted open with gunpowder. The two of them grabbed their weapons and rushed forward. Qiu Chuji and the other five masters moved aside a bit and suddenly all of them raised their ten palms and pressed at the backs of those two. A firm press was delivered and the two of them were thrown 2 metres away.
Da’erba and Huo Du’s martial arts were of the same level as Hao Datong, although they were not as powerful as Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, but they cannot be defeated by them either within one stance.
The Five Masters were in retreat contemplating in the Yuxu Cave to create a way to counter the Jade Maiden style, they were pondering intensively day and night. However, they felt that the martial arts displayed by Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu were the bane of Quanzhen martial arts. It is impossible to surpass them with stances, it was Qiu Chuji, who came up with an idea when he thought of the Big Dipper formation. He said:”We cannot overcome them with stances and varieties, but if we combine our internal strength we can use power to make for variety.”
Hence, the five of them intensively thought of a way to merge their internal energies to overcome an enemy, every stance will be generated by the merged power of the five of them. They know that there are no exceptional talents within the third and fourth generation, the only way to survive is to unite the large number of disciples. Within two months time, they finally created [The Seven Star Assembly]. This technique was derived from the Big Dipper formation, although it is called [The Seven Star Assembly], it does not necessarily need seven persons to unite their internal strengths. Six, five or even four or three can perform this technique. When the Imperial Priest lead the other warriors to seal the cave, the five masters were reaching the critical point of [The Seven Star Assembly] and could not be distracted, even though they knew large foes have attacked and had to ignore this for the time being. When they finally managed to merge their five internal energies perfectly, they blasted open the sealed cave. However, because they were in a hurry this technique has only reached thirty, forty percent of its’ level of attainment. Even so, Da’erba and Huo Du were unable to cope with it and the Five Masters were triumphant with one strike.
Qiu Chuji and others now turned around and were observing the battle between Xiao Longnu and the Imperial Priest and others. After observing for a few moments, they looked at each other and looked very sad and depressed. They thought: "In vain.....everything was in vain. We never thought that the martial arts of the Ancient Tomb School would be this magnificent. We can never defeat her in this lifetime."
The martial arts previously displayed by Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu were the blueprints for their ponderings and contemplation. But the incredible, fantastic swordplay of Xiao Longnu was too awesome. They could not even see what those stances are, how could they think of a way to counter it?
The Imperial Priest and the other Mongolian warriors had higher martial arts than the Five Masters of Quanzhen. It was practically impossible for the Quanzhen School to even produce someone like them now.
Qiu Chuji and others thought:"If our late Master was still alive he would surely be superior to them, our martial uncle Zhou is probably also one level higher than these four men in the field of martial arts. Yet, when facing the combined forces of these four fighters, chances are high that he will suffer defeat."
The Five Masters were ashamed and depressed, they felt that Quanzhen was degrading with each generation. They could not carry on the legacy of their patriarch anymore. When faced with a great enemy it seems that the Quanzhen School has no leg to stand on anymore.
However their new technique [The Seven Stars Assembly] has overcome the Lamaist Sect of Mongolia, which will benefit the protection of the country to outer invasions. Wulin quarrels are trivial, but protecting one's nation is vital. Losing to the Ancient Tomb School is of no concern, but losing to the Mongolians is not an option.
(chapter 26 edition 3)